All,
Today I went down to my local bearing supply store and paid $8.95 for a bearing that PerforMax was going to charge me $36.95, plus shipping. The bearing is made in China and I do not know who makes the bearing sold by PeforMax. Before I bought the bearing I checked with a local millwright who keeps the machinery running in my neighbor’s factory and he stated that they buy all of their bearing through the same supply house rather than through their manufactures and have noticed no difference in the quality of the domestic vs. Asian manufactured bearings.
Lesson, at least for me, before I buy another bearing through a dealer, I will check my local bearing supplier.
Doug
Replies
Some tools,PC in particular use a bastard size bearings. Several years ago I needed a bearing for my PC 690, so I took the old bearing with me to bearing supply house. The bearing was a "special bearing" and was located in another state. I would have to pay freight, packing charges, and for bearing- total cost about $35.00. I decided to check out my local tool repair shop. A genuine PC bearing was $22.00 and would be in the next day. Care to guess which one I bought? Had a friend who had a woodmizer mill. He would order bearings from WM and they would last a couple of months. He went to bearing supplier with old bearing, asked for a replacement bearing just like the one he had. The sales person took one look at it and suggested that he buy several as this bearing wouldn't last more than a couple of months. He up graded him to a better bearing, and only sold him one! Bearings in particular need to be miked to see if they are standard. Only buy sealed bearings, not shielded, only about a buck more. Check Grainger cat.as they have the sizes of bearings listed( bore, outside dia., and width etc. PS If you need to get arbor off of PC routers use an impact wrench, just like you use to get tires off a car. Hand tighten only, the force of cutting will finish tightening
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